Student representatives from the Harding University organizations Pi Sigma Alpha and the American Studies Institute joined in a collaborative effort to honor the victims of 9/11. Through their annual memorial display, students placed flags from each country representing each victim affected by the 9/11 tragedies on the campus front lawn.

Members of Pi Sigma Alpha, ASI distinguished students, faculty, staff and student volunteers placed more than 3,000 flags on Harding’s front lawn Sept. 9. The practice of commemorating 9/11 has been a continued tradition from this event’s origin in 2002.

“I find it extremely important to have a 9/11 reminder, such as our flag memorial, on a college campus,” said Kyle Nossaman, student president of ASI. “I think that such a memorial encourages students to be mindful of that day in our nation’s history and to never forget the brave men, women and children who lost their lives that day and those who risked their lives to save others.”

Molly White, a freshman from Franklin, Tennessee, was a kindergarten student at the time of 9/11, but she remembers learning as she grew older about the details of that day, the lives lost, and the impact on the country.

“The fact that students take action to remember 9/11 and encourage others to remember is so cool. I had no idea we did anything like that,” White said. “It makes me really proud to go to a school where students take the time and effort to honor the lives lost during such a devastating time for our country.”